Uray Theatre
640 Main Street,
Ouray,
CO
81427
640 Main Street,
Ouray,
CO
81427
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Additional Info
Architects: Ed White, George White
Previous Names: Ouray Theatre
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The theater’s name is inconsistent. The 1950 edition of Film Daily Yearbook lists it as the U-Ray Theater. A 1940 photo seen below shows it as the Uray Theatre. The Uray Theatre was opened in 1889. It was still open in 1968.
Contributed by
Ken McIntyre
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Recent comments (view all 8 comments)
Here’s what is probably another name for this theater in little Ouray, from the June 10, 1959 issue of Motion Picture Daily: “OURAY, Colo., June 9. – A. B. Hilliard, operator of the Chipeta Theatre here and the Nugget Theatre in Telluride, died of a heart attack while visiting in Denver.”
Yet another spelling, the expected one, was in this note from Boxoffice, Jan. 8, 1949: “OURAY, COLO. – The Ouray Theatre reopened recently after completion of repairs to damages incurred in a fire about six weeks ago. Repairs included installation of fireproof booths, new projectors and other equipment.” Another note in the same issue mentioned that Les McClary was the manager of the Ouray.
Circa 1955 photo added as Ouray Theatre, painted on wall left of center. Courtesy Mase Mason.
The address listed is the Wright Opera House built in 1888, not the Ouray Theatre. In doing a street view based off the 1955 photo I posted, I believe the Ouray Theatre was at 640 Main Street, which today houses Gumpshun Gallery. If you do a search of that address, it appears to be the same building with a heavily updated facade. You can also match up the other buildings from the 1955 photo if you scroll right from there.
Here is the Shorpy link for the September 1940 photo, which is originally “Theater in Ouray, Colorado”. Medium format negative by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration. Be sure to click on “View full size"for incredible detail.
https://www.shorpy.com/node/23759
Boxoffice, April 15, 1950: “OURAY, COLO. – N. J. Denstitt has leased the Ouray Theatre here from Charles Diller. Denstitt has been in the theatre business in Texas.”
Boxoffice, Dec. 5, 1966: Mr. and Mrs. V. L. Wrye have purchased and are opening the Chipeta Theatre at Ouray"
Boxoffice, March 6, 1967: “V. L. Wrye has closed the Chipeta Theatre, Ouray, Colo.”
Boxoffice, May 20, 1968: “Mr. and Mrs. V. L. Wrye will reopen the Chipeta Theatre at Ouray for the summer”
Boxoffice, Nov. 20, 1948: “OURAY, COLO. – Theatre Manager Ray David and operater Jerry Joyner were forced to escape from the projection room of the Ouray Theatre through small air vents recently when flames destroyed the booth and equipment. David noticed the fire in the booth during the second show and dashed upstairs to help Joyner. Both men were trapped as the fire raged through thousands of feet of film.”